Polokwane – Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on Wednesday welcomed the resumption of schooling in violence-plagued Vuwani in Limpopo, and called on all stakeholders to help in efforts to make up for lost time.
In a statement, the committee said it was pleased to note reports that special camps had been held to help matriculants catch up with outstanding school work, this after several months of schooling was lost due to community protests.
Over 20 schools were destroyed earlier this year after residents went on the rampage in protest against a Municipal Demarcation Board decision to relocate Vuwani under a new municipality.
On Tuesday night, another school was attacked by arsonists and committee chairperson, Nomalungelo Gina expressed the committee’s concern around the latest attack.
“This is unacceptable. Schools are there to ensure that our learners get a proper education, which in many instances due to the history of the country, many older people did not have.
“Let the learners enjoy the fruits of our democracy by making it possible for them to access education,” Gina said. “The right to education is after all a basic Constitutional right.”
Gina called on the community to take ownership of state infrastructure and ensure they were not vandalised during protests.
“This infrastructure is for the benefit of the public at large. Once protests or disagreements have been resolved, the community will still need them,” Gina said.
Turning to schooling, Gina said: “It is now time for our learners to use every possible method and all time needed to catch up. This is especially important for our Grade 11s, who will find themselves in matric next year.”
African News Agency